Sensing fatigue in teammate Thomas Shaughnessy late in Tuesday night’s fourth quarter, Needham senior forward Michael Klemm assertively told the Rockets star he would be taking over the lead defensive duties for the duration.

Klemm made good on his word, tracking Newton North captain Ethan Wright as if bound by rope to his opponent’s waist. With 45 seconds remaining and the Rockets ahead, 60-55, Klemm made the game’s decisive play, coolly swiping the ball from Wright (14 points) at the top of the key before slamming it home on the other end, setting in motion a jubilant display from the packed Needham High bleachers.

Aided by a scorching offensive first quarter and 28 points from Shaughnessy, fourth-ranked Needham knocked off No. 1 Newton North, 64-57, in a definitive Bay State Conference victory. The Rocket victory was recompense for Newton North’s win in January, the two teams’ only other meeting this season.

Advertisement

The victory came in the midst of a tragic and somber period for the Needham High community. Two students, 16-year old Talia Newfield and 17-year old Adrienne Garrido, died after being struck by a vehicle on Saturday evening.

“Today was a really tough day and over the weekend was just tragic,” said Shaughnessy. “This is a really good opportunity to come together [and] unify as a school. We had something to play for.

“We played inspired and we played like we wanted something. It’s a good feeling to come out here and give the community something they deserve.”

Shaughnessy was his usual vocal self, scoring or assisting on 14 of 16 points over a furious 16-3 second-quarter run. Though Wright (14 points) did his part to slow Shaughnessy in the second half, Shaughnessy wouldn’t be deterred.

Following a Wright 3-pointer that cut the Needham (14-2) lead to 4 with under two minutes remaining, Shaughnessy answered, canning a trey from the top of the key.

Advertisement

“He had a tremendous practice yesterday and was so locked in,” said Needham coach Paul Liner of his senior. ““He’s such a great leader. He] led us in the huddle, was next play all night, and he hit some really big shots for us.”

Newton North (15-4) clawed for the entirety of the fourth quarter, and a putback from sophomore Aaron Cooley (18 points, eight rebounds) trimmed Needham’s lead to 5 following Shaughnessy’s three. From there, Klemm took over.

“The last few [possessions], I was on Ethan and I’m getting tired and Michael was like, ‘Let me take him.’ He came out tonight and did his thing. He was locked in.”

“When you have guys like that around you, it’s awesome. It’s a great way to win. Play together, win together.”

Girls’ basketball

Bridgewater-Raynham 47, East Bridgewater 41 — Seniors Shannon Lynch and Brooke Reagan combined for 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Trojans (14-4) used a deciding 12-6 run over the final five-plus minutes to extend their winning streak to 12.

Girls’ hockey

Lincoln-Sudbury 1, Concord-Carlisle 0 — Julia Provvisionato recorded her fifth shutout of the season for the Warriors (12-4).

Cleared in Andover

Andover High principal Philip Conrad said the district has cleared varsity boys’ hockey coach Chris Kuchar and two assistants of allegations that they denied players food or water, concluding an internal investigation into their behavior. Conrad said he plans to reinstate the coaches as soon as he can confirm that the state’s Department of Children and Families, which has also been probing the coaches’ behavior, has reached the same conclusion. Andover (8-4-2) plays at Acton-Boxborough Wednesday night.